Photography 1: The Art of Photography

Project: Using lines in composition
Exercise: Implied lines.

For this exercise I looked at the two images given in the exercise and found the implied lines in each and showing them as red lines on each image.

In this image there are two implied lines.  There is a curved line that follows the line of scraped sand of the bullring.  There is also an eye-line from the matador towards the bull.

In this image there is an extension of a line for the intended path of the two horses.  There is also an eye-line between the front horse and the trainer.

I then looked at three photographs of my own and analysed them for implied lines.  The three images are shown below.

In this image there is an implied line formed by the parked cars in the car park.  The eye follows the line into the distance.

In this image there is an extension of a line in the direction of the travel of the boat.  There is also an eye-line between the pace keeper and the rowers.

In this image there is an implied line formed by the line of gondolas of the cable car.

In the next part of the exercise, I took two photographs that used an eye-line and/or an extension of a line, or lines that point.

In this image there are two extensions of a line formed by the direction of travel of the white van and the cyclist.

In this image there is an eye-line between the observer and the roof of the shed.


What have I learned from this exercise?

Implied lines can be used to subtly direct the viewer's attention.  This helps to organise a picture in such a way that another person will be encouraged to look at it in the way you want.  Implied lines are especially valuable because they are partially hidden, and so they can work in the manner of small nudges to the attention.